Posts by mamochan13

I"m tired and stressed and even though I'd love to add my observations, I cannot make sense of all the details on these threads right now in a coherent way - but I did want to comment that I was not confused at all by Cedars' pictures. I know they were not the actual Awake and WT pics. But they are powerful, nonetheless. On the other thread I observed that they could be seen as the teenage son leaving some other religion to join JWs and causing his parents' heartache. But I was not confused by where the pics came from.

I think Cedars has offered a powerful image that aptly illustrates the horrible harm DFing does.

Trying to pick them apart diminishes that. NO ONE should be made to choose between their family and their religion.

57

How Suicidal Thoughts can take over your Life.

by Lady Lee in

jw
friends

how suicidal thoughts can take over your life.. i lived most of my life thinking about suicide.

i have clear memories when i was 8 years old thinking about what it would be like to die.

i went to sleep every night of my young childhood saying the prayer:.

mamochan13

Lee - I recall years ago being at a JW convention where they said something about children leaving the faith and going off into the world - but that the things their parents had taught them would always be there, and they would not forget. I think that will be true of your daughters, but in a different way. The person you are - loving, caring, kind, and compassionate - those qualities are in your children. Maybe they won't know how to show them to you, their mother, because of the twisted religious crap, but I'm sure they are still good, caring people at their core. Perhaps focusing on the good things you have taught them can be a way to balance their treatment of you.

I am SO fortunate that I haven't lost my daughters, but my eldest has given me plenty of heartache because she is still confused about the religion. She tore me to pieces when my mother died because she does not understand why I had to separate myself from my toxic JW family, especially my mother, for so long. It's very confusing for our children, I think, especially when we as parents brought them up to believe the cult. And daughters don't always treat their mothers well, even in the best of circumstances.

But back to the topic of the thread - suicide does not have to be a solution. However, it becomes one all too often, as it did for our dear friend Oompa and so many others. When I was in that dark place, it was all I could see. I believed I was doing everyone a favour by leaving. I now look at my beloved grandchildren and thank whoever or whatever it was that kept me alive.

So how do we stop the suicidal thoughts from taking over?

281

Songs that make you cry

by sooner7nc in

jw
friends

there have been several threads about music the last few days, so i decided to start another.. this song absolutely makes me tear up every time i hear it.. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq_3byxasmm.

mamochan13

What is wrong with crying to songs? Sheesh. Islands in the Stream makes me cry because I cannot stand the screechy vocals. And let's not even mention "you picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel"

231

Thinking of becoming a JW.

by Kate82 in

hi,.

i am new to here so please be bear with me.. i have always believed in god, but was never baptised, my parents wanted me to make up my own mind religon wise.. i am thinking of becoming a jw and am just needing some advice on how to do this, bible study and jw beliefs.

also do jw say grace and how.. i am greatful of any help.. thanks.

mamochan13

I haven't commented on this thread because I try really hard to respect each person's right to believe as they choose, even if I don't agree or think it's a bit wacky. I think it's possible to become a JW and live a relatively okay life. Many of my family members have done it. They are content in their ignorance. The religion has met their needs.

But, Kate82, I'm also a mental health professional. And I've seen so much damage caused by the kind of cult think that JW's promote. I've lost my family and my friends because I chose a different belief. My daughters are all messed up because of the JW religion. So I guess I would say... if you plan on staying with the religion for the rest of your life...if you plan on never breaking any rules...if you are okay with the fact that you may have to one day reject your own children because they choose to leave the religion...then you may be okay becoming a JW. Maybe it will meet a need inside you. Maybe it will work for you.

I was born in. I had no choice. I lost so much when I left. I'm glad you are looking at all sides of the picture before making a decision. Even if you do decide to join - I hope you will always keep an open, critical mind and not be afraid to question or leave if things don't work. Good luck, Kate82.

47

When You Were A JW Were You Disturbed By "Apostate" Literature or "Apostates" At Conventions?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i was always curious about what they had to say.

(i guess i was an apostate in the making)..

mamochan13

I was given apostate literature way back when I was a teenager. I looked at it, but tossed it. I was aware of the 30 Years a Watchtower Slave book - it was notorious. I wasn't afraid to look at apostate stuff - in fact I read the book of Mormon, too.

The first time I was aware of apostates at a convention was when this guy came in wearing a T-shirt with the logo, "nananana on Jehovah" and started to walk around the concourse. No one would have noticed except the attendants all started to follow him. It was pretty funny, all these guys following one person in a T-shirt. But I thought the guy was an idiot.

15

Isn't it hypocritical for the Governing Body to feature a biochemist in Awake! magazine but at the same time condemn higher education?

by matt2414 in

the january awake!

has an entire article about a woman, a molecular biochemist, who became a witness, and yet the watchtower leaders condemn and blacklist any of their members who get a college education.

i couldn't stop thinking about this as i read the article.

mamochan13

It is hypocritical. They've done it for years. They love it when an educated person joins them, but condemn the rest of us for going to university. There may be some congregations that tolerate it. Most of them don't because those are the instructions they receive from the GB.

57

How Suicidal Thoughts can take over your Life.

by Lady Lee in

jw
friends

how suicidal thoughts can take over your life.. i lived most of my life thinking about suicide.

i have clear memories when i was 8 years old thinking about what it would be like to die.

i went to sleep every night of my young childhood saying the prayer:.

mamochan13

Lady Lee, thank youi for your honesty on a subject too many people hide and refuse to talk about. I've been wanting to start a thread like this, too. We need to have this honest conversation.

I've been in that dark place as well, And I don't plan to ever go back. But it's very true that unexpected happenings can threaten the ability to stay "in the light". I've found that I have to always stay vigilant and monitor my ongoing health, since the only times I've felt myself slipping back are the times when I'm stressed, run down, and not taking care of my physical and emotional self.

It's so important to get help before you slip too far, because once you do, you often no longer believe help is available to you. I'm a strong believer in professional counselling, but help can take many forms. A creative outlet is also essential.

Most importantly, keep nurturing your own well-being. Love yourself and feed your soul and spirit so that you won't be "the next person people have to say goodbye to."

7

How a lost 5-year-old boy found his way home via Google Earth... 25 years later

by hemp lover in

jw
friends

this is a fascinating, beautiful story.

"separated from his older brother at a train station, five-year-old saroo munshi khan found himself lost in the slums of calcutta.

nearly 20 years later, living in australia, he began a painstaking search for his birth home, using ingenuity, hazy memories, and google earth.. .

mamochan13

Crazy story. A cynical part of me wonders if it's really true, but I'd like to believe it is. It's an amazing testimony to the human spirit. There have been so many children lost like that.